Beef Stew - A Potion of Fortitude

Originally published July 30, 2023, on Tumblr.

Whether it's been an exhausting week, a frigid winter's day, or just a stressful time, few things are more comforting than a hearty bowl of stew. I make this beef stew for myself whenever I need a true pick-me-up or when I'm preparing for an in-depth magical working. It provides lasting energy, warmth, and strength.

Plus, this recipe is scalable - make a ton and freeze it to enjoy for weeks or just make a little bit for one meal. The measurements below are approximate; measure with your heart.

Ingredients:

  • Chuck roast, cut to half-inch cubes (you can get pre-chunked stew meat, which is what I typically get)
  • Flour, enough to coat the beef
  • Salt and Pepper (about 1 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper), for seasoning the beef coating
  • 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
  • 1 Onion, diced
  • 2 Large Potatoes, peeled and cut into half-inch to one-inch cubes
  • 2 Carrots, peeled and cut into rounds
  • 5-6 Cloves of Garlic, finely diced
  • 4 cups Beef Broth
  • Herbs of your choice, such as: Sage, Thyme, Marjoram, Celery Seed, Bay, Chili Flakes
  • Additional veggies of your choice, such as: Parsnips, Turnips, Bok Choy
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Mix together your flour, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Toss the beef chunks in the mixture to coat. This will create a nice brown crispiness on the outside.
  2. In your stew pot, sauté your flour-coated beef until browned on all sides. Remove from the pot and set aside.
  3. Add more oil to your pot and cook your onion until translucent. If you don't mind soft carrots in your stew, add them now and cook until just starting to soften and brown. (Note: I often leave the carrots until after the potatoes are nearly cooked through because I don't like the texture of fully-cooked carrots.)
  4. Once your onions are translucent and your carrots have started to soften/brown, toss in your butter and scrape the bottom of the pot. You want to get all those beautiful, delicious brown bits back into the mixture. You can add a little water if you need help loosening the bits.
  5. Add your garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  6. Put your beef back into the pot (along with any drippings from the plate/bowl you placed it in). Pour your broth over everything and give it all a good stir.
  7. Toss your potatoes into the pot. Bring it all to a boil and reduce your heat to let it simmer.
  8. Add your herbs and spices. I recommend salt, pepper, sage, thyme, celery seed (or salt), and bay. If you like it spicy, you can throw in a bit of chili powder or flakes.
  9. Simmer for at least one hour or until your potatoes are soft and your beef becomes tender, stirring occasionally.
  10. If your stew isn't thick enough by the time your potatoes are done, you can make a cornstarch slurry by combining one tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water. Pour the slurry into the stew and let it cook until thickened to your desired consistency.
  11. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  12. Serve with crusty bread, veggie side dishes, or whatever else you like.

Magic Notes:

  • As mentioned above, I often use this recipe to bolster or replenish my energy before or after an intense magical working. It also works for physical exertions - I made this for a group of my partner's friends while they were moving heavy furniture to a new apartment, and it gave them all the energy to move everything in one night!
  • This stew has an intense comforting effect. If someone I know has been working hard, stressing out, or hasn't been feeding themselves properly, I'll make this for them to help them remember to take care of themselves. It's rejuvenating, hearty, and full of love.
  • Depending on the herbs you choose to include, this could also be a powerful protection spell. Especially in the cold months, I use this as a protective ward against the cold exhaustion that pulls at the body and mind.
  • Pop a bit of chili in this spell to both speed up its effects and cast out negativity! Nothing clears the sinuses like a nose full of spice, and nothing clears the body of bad vibes like a good dose of chili flake.
  • Like many of my spell recipes, this one is most effective when it's shared. Give a bowl to your friends, your family, your neighbors, whoever. It makes a wonderful offering to house spirits or ancestors.

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